Onslow County Crime Stoppers has approved a reward in a case involving a student having firearms at Lejeune High School.

“This reward reinforces a very powerful message and sets a positive example for other students,” said Crime Stoppers Chairman Joe Yannessa.

A student brought two handguns — a .45-caliber and 9mm — to school on March 28. The weapons weren’t loaded and no ammunition was found on campus, according to base officials.

Another student informed the school resource officer who was able to confiscate the weapons, said Joe Kennedy, special agent-in-charge for NCIS Carolinas Field Offices.

“The school resource officer did a tremendous job and responded quickly and ensured the guns were located and recovered quickly,” Kennedy said. “He eliminated the threat as soon as possible.”

Had the student not come forward, any number of grave outcomes could have occurred, especially if other conditions or actions resulted in a physical confrontation with law enforcement under the assumption that the armed student had less benign intentions, Yannessa said.

“We believe the message received by the student body is that making the right decision, in this case reporting weapons to the school resource officer, resulted in unplanned rewards,” Yannessa said.

The primary reward in the case is the knowledge that the situation was defused quickly and handled without harm coming to anyone and, secondly, that the Crime Stoppers program will provide monetary recognition for students who report criminal activity in their schools, Yannessa said.

The Crime Stoppers Board of Directors approved the reward payout at its April meeting.

The award-winning local organization offers a reward of up to $2,500 for information leading to an arrest or apprehension in area crimes.

Anyone with information concerning crimes at Onslow County or Camp Lejeune schools can contact the school resource officer, their local law enforcement agency or Onslow Crime Stoppers at 910-938-3273. Callers to Crime Stoppers do not have to reveal their identities. For more information and updates like Crime Stoppers on Facebook at facebook.com/onslowcrimestoppers.

Contact Daily News Senior Reporter Lindell Kay at 910-219-8455 or lindell.kay@jdnews.com. Follow him on Twitter and friend him on Facebook @ 1lindell.